Bicycle-fork.



Patented May 2|, |90l.

J. J. SLEVIN.

BICYCLE FORK.

(Application Bled May 12, 1898. Renewed Oct. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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y also lend an additional support to the ordi- UNrrr: STATES JAMES J.SLEYIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE-FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 674,744, dated May 21,1901.`

Application filed May 12,1898. Renewed October I7, 1900. Serial No.33,404. (No modem .T0 ctZZ whom. it may concern:

Beit known thatI, JAMEsJ. SLEVIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedanew and usefulImprovement in Bicycle-Forks, of which the following is aspecication.

Bicycle-forks are usually made hollow or, in other words, of tubularconstruction, and it occasionally happens as the result of a fall orcollision that said forks become dented, bent, or broken and causeinconvenience to the wheelman. This sometimes happens at a distance fromhome or from a shop where repairs can be made; and the object -of myinvention is to lessen the risk of such difficulty and inconvenience.

In carrying out my invention I employ in connection with and in additionto the usual tubular bicycle-fork an auxiliary emergencyfork andfork-crown placed within and adjacent to the tubular fork, the lowerends of such auxiliary emergency-fork having openings or notches toreceive the axle of the front wheel, and the upper end of the fork-crownhaving a stem to pass into the hollow steering post connected to theordinary fork. This auxiliary emergency-fork is preferably solid andcomposed of spring-steel, and being connected at the top of thesteering-post and at the fork ends to the axle of the wheel will ifeither or both the tubular-fork sides become accidentally broken orotherwise injured take the place of the same in supporting the rider andguiding the wheel and will nary fork, lessening the risk of accident.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partially in section,illustrating my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line ofFig. l. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a mcdication, and Fig.dis a section at the line y y of Fig. 3.

The tubular front-fork sides are shown at d a', the fork-crown at b, thesteering-post at c, and the handle-bar stem at CZ, the front hub at e,and the axle at f, the cones at g g', and the nuts at t' 2".. Theseparts are all of usual and well-known construction and do not requirefurther description.

The auxiliary emergency-fork sides are shown at Z Z' and theirfork-crown at m.

These sides are within, adjacent to, and extend throughout the length ofthe usual-fork sides ct a' and crown b of the bicycle. They arepreferably solid and composed of springsteel, the crown part beingthickest and the sides tapering toward the fork ends 3 4, which are eachprovided with an opening or a notch to receive the axle f of the frontwheel.

The upper end of the fork-crown m is provided with a tubular head o topass into the central opening of the fork-crown b or the base of thesteering-post c. This head is supposed to fit tightly in place, so asnot to turn or to be accidentally loosened or disconnected by thebending or breakage of either of the front-fork sides a a.

I prefer to make the fork-crown m with a direct connection to thehandle-bar stem and to that end employ a stem r, having` a rectangulartenon on the upper end, the said stem passing upward through thesteeringpost c, and I prefer to make the lower end of the handle-barstem d with a plug` having a central rectangular opening for therectangular tenon that iits and is received in the said rectangularopening in the plug at the lower end ot the handle-bar stem. The objectof this is to form a more secure-and positive bearing for the auxiliaryfork and connection therefrom to the handle-bar stem and independent ofthe frictional connection with the ba'se of the steering-post or theforkcrown b. With this construction a direct connection is eectedbetween the axle of the front wheel and the handle-bar stem, so that theone part cannot turn without the other. Consequently if the usual collaremployed for clamping the handle-bar stem to the steering-post shouldaccidentally loosen or be neglected no harm can arise, as the cycle willstill be under control ot' the handle-bars.

I prefer to make the auxiliary emergencyfork sides iit snugly along andagainst the inner surfaces of the ordinary-fork sides and to curve thelower endsof the auxiliary emergency-fork sides to assist thisconditionand obviate any tendency to vibrate and cause a rattling noise.

(i, The emergency-fork and crown can be added IOO to cycles already inuse and can be removed with facility after being in place, if necessaryfor any cause.

I am aware that bicycles have heretofore been made with two forks; butin this case a dierent obje-ct was sought and one fork; was pivotallyconnected to the front-wheel axle, and the steering-post of the bicyclewas provided with a spring against which one fork bore, so that theforward part of the bicycle was provided with a spring-action to lessenthe vibration incident to concussion in riding;

but said object and condition are totally different from my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a bicycle, the combination with thesteering-wheel, its axle, the front fork, the

crown and steering'- post, of an auxiliary emergency-fork within andadjacent to the usual fork and integral with a fork-crown and providedwith a head adapted to pass forcibly into the usual fork-crown that isconnected with the steering-post and with openings at the lower forkends for connection to the axle of the front wheel, substantially as setforth.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the front wheel, its axle, thefront fork, the crown, the steering-post andthe handle-bar stem, of aplug in the lower part of the handle-bar stem having an opening therein,an auxiliary emergencyfork of metal and. a crown made integraltherewith, a stem connected to the

